High signal lights for automotive vehicles

ABSTRACT

A device for an automotive vehicle to signal braking, deceleration, turning of the vehicle or an emergency situation. The device has two bodies facing rearwardly, mounted near the top of the back or the highest point of the vehicle adjacent the sides of the vehicle. Each body has a base and a cover with translucent lenses. Light sources and reflectors are disposed on the base for illuminating the lenses to create the signaling as required. Lighting one or more lenses in the cover indicate braking while lighting an arrow shaped lens in the cover and a side lens facing out from the vehicle indicate intended turning. The light transmitted through the lenses in the cover is directed downwardly either by a downward tilt to the cover or by directional configurations formed on the lenses. The lenses signifying braking are formed from red material while the arrow shaped and side lenses signifying turning are formed from red or yellow material. The device can be powered directly from the vehicle&#39;s electrical system or from a separate back-up battery that can be trickle charged as the vehicle is operating. A deceleration sensor such as a piezo electric crystal also operates the braking signals. An auxiliary switch near the back of the vehicle activates the turn indicators to operate in an intermittent emergency mode.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.08/613,308 filed Mar. 11, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,990 issued Dec.8, 1998.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention pertains to automotive vehicle signal lights.In particular, the invention pertains to signal lights and a method ofusing the signal lights to signal the braking of an automotive vehicleas well as indicating the intention to turn in a certain direction. Thesignal lights should have the capability of being seen from a distance,ideally reducing the number of collisions at the rear of the vehicle.

Attempts have been made to mount lights in visible locations. In thepast, a high mount rear tail light to indicate braking has been used.This type of light has been used on passenger vehicles and is generallymounted in the center back of the vehicle at the lower edge of the backwindow. Some attempts have been made to place the high mount tail lightat the middle of the top edge of the back window. However, positioningof high mount signal lights on commercial vehicles for braking has beennoticeably limited. Further, indication of intent to turn the vehiclehas not been accomplished with signals mounted at a high position.

For the year of 1994, the State of Michigan alone, reported 4,441 rearend collisions for the category including large trucks, buses, hazardousmaterial carriers, and vehicles having at least two axles and six ormore tires. Clearly, better signaling is needed, particularly forcommercial vehicles.

Some of the previous attempts to position a relatively high tail lightare as follows:

U.S. Pat. No. 5,211,466 discloses a vehicle rear signal light assemblyfor mounting above the rear window of an automobile.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,225,185 discusses a mounting for a marker light on atruck trailer.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,400,655 shows a guide for public safety of vehicles andpedestrians.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,564,497 teaches a light and horn vehicle signalingsystem for a truck trailer.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,297,675 discloses an underdeck supplemental right turnsignal for semitrailers.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,471 shows a brake light attachment for use with atrailer hitch.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,751,493 teaches a kit for retrofitting automobiles withdeceleration warning lights.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,440,415 shows a trailer interior and exterior lightingsystem.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,956,632 discusses a multiple purpose oscillating armelectromechanical vehicle signal device.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,073,768 discloses a multiple array of signal lightsmounted below a truck tailgate.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,622,494 teaches a signaling device mounted below a busrear window.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,245,251 shows a daytime running light conveniencefeature.

However, none of the above patents teach separate turning, braking andemergency signal lights mounted near the highest point of the vehicleand adjacent the sides of the vehicle. Thus, no known device exists tosignal: braking, the intention of turning, sudden deceleration and anemergency to a distant viewer. The need exists for devices to be mountedin separate high locations to indicate braking, the intention ofturning, sudden deceleration and an emergency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to signal lights for indicating braking andfor indicating intended turning in a certain direction. The signallights are also used for signaling sudden deceleration of the vehicleand an emergency. Essentially, the invention comprises a devicecomprising two separate bodies that are each positioned adjacentopposite sides of the vehicle just lower than the highest point on thevehicle or attached trailer. Therefore the bodies are positioned nearthe top of the vehicle, trailer or an air dam/fairing attached toeither. Hereafter in the interest of simplicity, the vehicle, thetrailer or an air dam/fairing attached to either, will all be referredto as the vehicle.

Each body has a base that is attached to the vehicle. A weather proofconnector is emplaced between the base and the vehicle. The basecontains lighting sources and reflectors to concentrate and direct thelight radiating from the lighting sources.

A cover fits over the base and encloses and protects the lightingsources and reflectors contained on the base. Moreover, the cover isprovided with a tethering cable to keep the cover nearby its position.The tethering of the cover allows for maintenance of the lightingsources without the worry of dropping the cover to the ground andpotentially damaging it.

Each cover has several translucent colored lenses disposed on the frontof the cover. One lens is arrow shaped and is nearest to the outside.This lens is yellow in color and when lit, indicates the intention ofthe vehicle operator to turn the vehicle in that direction. Other lensor lenses on the cover have circular or rectangular shapes and are of ared color to indicate braking of the vehicle. The side of the covernearest the side of the vehicle also has a yellow lens to indicateintended turning. The yellow lights may alternatively be red dependingon governmental regulations.

The cover is tilted inwardly from the top of the body towards thebottom. This downward tilt angles the light from the lenses in adownwardly fashion, thereby more readily alerting drivers of followingvehicles when the lenses are lit. Alternatively, the lenses can beconfigured to direct the light downwardly by using ribs in a designedpattern to achieve the same result. By locating the lights high with theslight tilt the lights stay relatively clean and protected from roadsplash and debris.

The signals are connected to existing vehicle electrical circuits.Accordingly, the braking signals in each body are wired to the brakepedal circuit. Therefore, when the vehicle operator actuates the brakepedal, not only do the regular brake lights light, the braking signalson the covers of both bodies of the device are activated and lighted.Correspondingly, the indication of intention to turn signal on the frontand side of either body is also wired to the electrical circuit that isactivated by the vehicle operator moving the turn signal to indicateeither an impending left or right turn.

The operation of the vehicle's existing emergency flashers also operatesthe turning signals of both of the bodies of the invention in the sameintermittent manner. Further, for even greater safety considerations, anauxiliary switch is provided near the back of the vehicle. The auxiliaryswitch allows manual operation of the turning indicators in theemergency mode from outside of the vehicle without the driver needing toreturn to the front of the vehicle.

The necessary action required to achieve the operation of the signallights of the invention is triggered by the activation of currentvehicle pedals or switches. No additional thought or action is requiredof the operator, which may be particularly important in a situationrequiring immediate action. Thusly, important information from thesignal lights can be transmitted to a following driver several vehiclesback whose view may be blocked by interspersed vehicles between theindicating vehicle and the following driver. Ideally, rear endcollisions will be reduced by use of this invention as compared to theknown signal lights and methods of use.

Initially, it is envisioned that the signal lights be wired into theexisting lighting circuits. However, a battery can be provided to powerthe signal lights should the existing vehicle circuits fail. The batterycan be of a trickle charge type to continually reserve energy when thevehicle is operational and thereby be fully charged in event of vehiclecircuit failure.

As a further safety feature mercury switches or similar devices may beincluded as a part of the battery pack version to automatically closethe circuit for emergency flashing. Thus, in the event of collision orroll-over, for example, the device can act as an emergency flasherdespite failure of the existing vehicle lighting circuits.

The invention can advantageously be employed for installation on newvehicles. The invention is also useful to retrofit existing automotivevehicles, including cars. While directed to all types of automotivevehicles as discussed above, the invention herein disclosed is notlimited thereto but has other uses such as for horsedrawn vehicles andhuman powered vehicles.

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference ismade to the following detailed description when read in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer tolike elements throughout the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a illustrates an environmental view of the back of a trucktrailer showing the device according to the invention;

FIG. 1 b illustrates an alternative configuration of the device;

FIG. 1 c illustrates a second alternative configuration of the device;

FIG. 2 illustrates a rear view of a truck cab with the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a rear view of a truck cab with an air dam, thedevice according to the invention installed on the air dam;

FIG. 4 a illustrates a rear view of a tanker truck having the deviceaccording to the invention installed on a cross-arm;

FIG. 4 b illustrates attachment of the cross-arm to the tanker truck;

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective of the body of the device;

FIG. 6 illustrates an exploded side view of the body of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 a illustrates a cross-sectional view of the body of FIG. 5showing a lighting source and a reflector;

FIG. 7 b illustrates an alternative form of the body;

FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of the body with a fastener and anelectric line/tether;

FIG. 9 illustrates a view of the cover of the body with a rectangularbraking lens;

FIG. 10 a illustrates in plan view a small portion of truck-trailer doorwith the device installed on the door;

FIG. 10 b illustrates the device with protective pads installed;

FIG. 11 illustrates the external appearance of the device with a batterypack;

FIG. 12 illustrates schematically the circuit elements installed withthe battery pack;

FIG. 13 illustrates schematically a second configuration for the circuitelements installed with the battery pack depicted in FIG. 14;

FIG. 14 illustrates in end view an alternative form of battery pack;

FIG. 15 is a cover off view of a light emitting diode version of thedevice; and

FIG. 16 is a cross-section of the device of FIG. 15 showing the diodeassembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In FIG. 1, the device generally denoted as 10 is shown mounted to avehicle 12. The device 10 comprises two physically separated bodies,each body 14 having a base 16 and a cover 18. Each body 14 is mounted atthe back of the vehicle 12 slightly below the highest point of thevehicle 12 and adjacent the side of the vehicle 12. Each body 14 ismounted at the top of the door of the trailer as shown in FIG. 1 a, orthe surrounding frame 15 as shown in FIGS. 1 b and 1 c.

The base 16 has attachment means 20 to the vehicle. The attachment means20 can be wood screws 22 as shown in FIG. 8, or nuts and bolts used withor without a U-channel as shown in FIG. 4 b. A weather seal 24 as shownin FIG. 6 is disposed between the base 16 and the vehicle 12 toeliminate damage from water intrusion or entrapment. The cover 16 may becomprised of plastic and has multiple lenses 26, 28, 28′ and 30 moldedtherein.

The placement of the body 14 is not limited to positioning on the doorof a trailer. FIG. 2 shows placement of the body 14 near the roof of avehicle 12′, in this instance, a truck cab, while FIG. 3 depictsplacement of the body near the top edge of an air dam 12″ mounted on thetruck cab. Placement of the body 14 can be applied to a tanker truck12′″ by employing a “U” channel 31 to hold the body 14 as depicted inFIG. 4. The “U” channel 31 is attachable to the tanker ladder 35 bybrackets or “U” bolts 33 as best shown in FIG. 4.

In FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the body 14 of the device 10 is shown. As describedabove, the body 14 has a base 16 and a cover 18 connected to the base16. The cover 18 has an arrow shaped lens 26 of yellow or redtranslucent material and one or more circular lenses 28, 28′ of redtranslucent material on the front surface 32 of the cover 18, which facerearwardly. The lens of red translucent material can be have arectangular shape as shown in FIG. 9.

The arrow shaped lens 26 is disposed to be nearer the side of thevehicle 12 than the circular lens(es) 28, 28′. The side surface 34 ofthe cover has a second yellow translucent lens 30 as best seen in FIG.6. The second yellow lens 30 faces sidewardly and is in near proximityto the arrow shaped lens 26.

The front surface 32 of the cover 18 inclines downwardly toward thevehicle 12 thereby being smaller in depth to the vehicle 12 at thebottom of the cover 18. This incline 36 projects the light from thelenses at a downward angle making the signal from a high vehicle morenoticeable to other drivers. Alternatively, the lenses 28 can havedirectional configurations on the inside surface 29 of the lenses forconcentrating and aiming the light as shown in FIG. 7 b. The directionalconfigurations are designed to present a substantial amount of light tothe eyes of the viewers, the following drivers.

The body 14 is lit by illuminating means 38 contained in the body 14 asshown in FIG. 7. The illuminating means 38 can be an incandescent bulb40 or other type of lighting source, such as fluorescent or solid state.A reflector 42 partially surrounds the light bulb 40 to intensify anddirect the light rays from the light bulb 40. The illuminating means 38is connected into the vehicle's electrical system. Consequently, whenthe standard brake lights are operated by the operator touching thebrake pedal the lens 28 or lenses 28′ signifying braking are also lit.Correspondingly, when the vehicle driver operates the standard turnsignals, the lenses 26 and 30 are also lighted and are operated.

The cover 18 can be snap fitted to the base 16 or be pivoted about a pin44 as in FIG. 6. The electrical connection to the vehicle's power sourcecan be made through a plastic flex line 46 as shown in FIG. 8. Theelectric cable 46 can serve as a tether 48 to retain the cover 18 duringservicing of the illuminating means 38. A separate plastic cable 50fastened to the cover 18 and base 16 as shown in FIG. 6 can alsofunction as the tether 48.

FIG. 9 illustrates an optional lens configuration wherein a relativelylarge rectangular lens 28″ is substituted for the circular lenses 28 and28′ above. In FIGS. 10 a and 10 b protective pads 58 are mounted on thecover 18 to first make contact with the vehicle 12 side wall and therebyprotect the device 10 when the door 54 is fully swung around asindicated by arrow 60 and latched 62 to the side wall.

In addition to the vehicle's power system, a trickle charge battery pack64 can be attached to or inserted into the device 10 as shown in FIG. 11to ensure power for emergency operation of the device. Either the device10 can be made large enough to house the small rechargeablenickel-cadmium or lead-acid battery pack 64 and attendant trickle chargecircuitry or preferably a multi-layer thin film battery 66 such as usedin Polaroid® film packages may be used. In the latter case the thin filmbattery and attendant circuitry for retaining a charge need notappreciably add to the volume or depth of the device 10 but rather be aflat package on the back of the device 10 as shown in FIG. 14.

Each body 14 is connected to the vehicle's electric circuitry. However,an auxiliary switch 52 for emergency turn signal mode can be inserted inthe circuit to operate the body 14 independently of the vehicle'sstandard signaling system. Such a switch 52 can be mounted low on thedoors 54 as shown in FIG. 1 a or low on the surrounding frame 56 inFIGS. 1 b and 1 c (not shown) within an adult's reach from the ground.

A sudden deceleration sensor can be mounted within the body 14 to sensea sudden impact and trigger the means for illuminating to illuminate thelenses. A piezo electric crystal properly positioned to be compressedbetween the cover 18 and base 16 or a mercury switch can operate theilluminating means 38 when a forceful impact from a roll-over orcollision pushes the cover into the crystal and base 16 or throws theswitch.

In FIGS. 11 and 12 the battery pack 64 comprises the battery 65 plusmodules for trickle charging 68 the battery whenever the brake or turnsignal lights are operated plus, as options, the emergency flasher 70and the piezo electric circuitry or mercury switch 72 accident andcollision sensors. There may also be a small light 74 to indicate thetrickle charger is operational whenever the brake or turn signal lightis energized.

FIG. 13 shows the modules for the trickle charger 68, emergency flasher70 and mercury switch 72 are tucked in between and partially behind theilluminating means 38. By tucking the modules within available space thesame base 16 and cover 18 can be used for versions of the device 10 withand without the modules. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 14 a thin filmbattery pack 66 can be a flat thin (about ⅜ inches thickness) plasticbox affixed between the device 10 and the door 54 or frame 56.

The body 14 of the device 10 can be formed from any opaque, lightweight,strong material, such as plastic. Other materials such as aluminum orother lightweight corrosion resistant metals could also beadvantageously employed. The lenses can be formed from a colorabletranslucent material, also lightweight and strong such as plastic. Thecircuitry employed is either standard automotive circuitry or circuitrydesigned to comply with standard automotive circuitry requirements.

Although described above in terms of brake lights and turn signals,other lights, in particular backup lights with clear lenses, may beadded to the device with electrical connection to the backup lightingcircuit of the vehicle. Thus, a clear or white light observed high up atthe rear will instantly signal backing up to a plurality automobilesbehind the vehicle.

FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate the configuration for a multiple diode lightversion of the device 10. The base 116 has mounted therein a printedcircuit board 138 having a plurality of light emitting diodes 140mounted thereto in a pattern as shown with the electronic components 139underneath the circuit board. The large plurality of light emittingdiodes 140 provides a very long lifetime of use at low power before thelight output is significantly affected by loss of diodes.

1. A device for a first relatively tall commercial vehicle for signalingto a plurality of other vehicles of much lesser height following therebehind comprising at least two bodies, each body having a base, and acover joined to the base, means for attaching each base to the firstvehicle, the two bodies being mountable adjacent to the top on the backof the first vehicle and adjacent to each side of the vehicle with thecovers facing rearwardly, and a plurality of translucent lenses in eachcover and a plurality of illumination means for illuminating each ofsaid lenses selectably to signal to the plurality of following vehicles,said first vehicle having the two bodies mounted adjacent the topthereof at an elevation sufficient for viewing by a plurality offollowing vehicles arrayed serially behind the first vehicle.
 2. Thedevice of claim 1 wherein said illumination means each comprise aplurality of light emitting diodes set in an array to illuminate atleast one lens.
 3. The device of claim 2 comprising a printed circuitboard positioned between the cover and the base in at least one body,said plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on the printed circuitboard.
 4. Vehicle signaling lights for signaling change of vehicle speedor direction from a first relatively tall commercial vehicle to aplurality of other vehicles of much lesser height following there behindcomprising, at least one light adjacent the upper right rear corner onthe back of the first relatively tall vehicle, at least one lightadjacent the upper left rear corner on the back of the first relativelytall vehicle, each of said at least one light having a base and a coverenclosing the light, each of said at least one light located at anelevation sufficient for viewing by the plurality of following vehiclesarrayed serially behind the first vehicle, and electric circuitrycommunicating from first vehicle driver controls to each of said atleast one light whereby a first vehicle driver can selectably illuminateeach or both of said at least one lights by applying the first vehiclebrakes or turn signal switches.
 5. The vehicle signaling lights of claim4 wherein each of said at least one light is a single light combiningthe function of brake light and turn signal light.
 6. The vehiclesignaling lights of claim 4 wherein each of said at least one lightcomprises separately illuminateable brake light and turn signal light.7. The vehicle signaling lights of claim 4 wherein said at least onelight comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes set in an array toilluminate the at least one light.
 8. The vehicle signaling lights ofclaim 7 comprising a printed circuit board having the array of lightemitting diodes mounted on the printed circuit board.